Claw-bar.



No. 746,083. v PATENTED DEC. s, 1903.

' P. D. H'OLBROOK.

QLAW BAR. APPLICATION PI LED NOV. 21, 1902.

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' UNITED STATES Patented December 8, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE;

cLAw-BA R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 746,083, dated December8,1903. Application filed November 21, 1902. Serial No. 132,292. (Nomodel.)

T0 00% whom it may concern: I

Be it known thatI, FRANCIS D. HOLBROOK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illi nois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Claw-Bars, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to claw-bars, and especially to devices of thiskind adapted for extracting rail-spikes from ties.

The main object of my invention is to pro-' vide a novel device of thisclass which extracts spikes without bending them.

Another object of my invention is to provide a claw-bar in which the jawis movable on the handle in order to increase or decrease the anglebetween the parts to adjust the jaw on the handle, so that it may bestruck on the spikewhen the angle is decreased, and then employed todraw the spike in a practically straight line when the angle isincreased.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description andappended claims.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the organization andarrangement bar in. its two extreme positions by'dotted and full lines.Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the jaw in central section and the lowerportion of the handle in side elevation; and Fig. 4 is a view similar toFig. 3, but showing the claw bar in operative positionto a rail andspike and illustrating two intermediate positions assumed by the partsbetween the extreme positions of Fig.2.

Referring to the drawings, the-letter A indicates a handle of suitablelength, in practice about five feet, and'provided with an angular footA, having a rounded base or curved lower edge a and a rear heel a. Thefront face a of the foot is substantially vertical when the foot restsupon its base, and

is provided with an upwardlyfacing shoul- I spondingly thickened at itsbase, whereby a more extended bearing-surface is provided to rest uponthe ties. The, inner face or wall 17 of the mortise is provided with adownwardly-facing shoulder I), which is adapted to coact with theshoulder a of the handle.

When the device is used, the parts may be first placed in the relationshown in full lines in Fig. 2and in Fig. 3, wherein the angle betweenthe handle and jaw is decreased, and with the faces a and b inengagement, in which position the claw may be struck upon the spike whennecessary after the fashion of striking down with a mattock, and theclaw thereby forced upon the spike. Where the spike is not sunk too deepinto the tie, the claws may be worked under it, or the operator maystrike his foot against the heel a of the part A to force the claw uponthe spike,

the conformation of the coacting faces of the so that the spike isentirely within the claw.

Continued pressure on the handle causes the parts fulcrumed on the curveof the base b and the lower edge of the foot A to successively assumethe positions indicated in dotted and full lines in Fig. 4 and then indotted lines in Fig. 2, the curved formation of the parts allowing thejaw to slide forward By means of the curves of the jaw and foot the jawis forced forward toward the rail during the progressive upward movementof the spike, and thereby maintains its claw bin practical alinementwith the spike,whereby the latter is extracted without bending, thefinal fulcrum being on the heel a. The jaw being movable on the handleis readily adjusted to its difierent positions and beingdetachablyconnected with the handle may be easily removed when worn or broken forreplacement.

While the coacting faces a and b of the handle and jaw, respectively,will operate satisfactorily if plain, I prefer to employ the shoulders,as they provide a more positive engagement of these parts and take thestrain olf the connecting-bolt.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is l l. A claw-bar consisting of a handle having anangular foot the front face and base of which are at substantially rightangles, a claw pivoted on the end of the bar and having a shouldercoacting with the front face of the foot and a curved base forming apreliminary or initial fulcrum in front of the bar, and the foot havinga rear heel forming the final fulcrum.

2. A claw-bar consisting of a bar or handle having a foot, and a jawpivoted on the handle and having claws, the base of the jaw forming apreliminary fulcrum, the foot having a curved base to form a changingfulcrum and also having a rearWardly-projecting heel to form the rearand final fulcrum.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS D. HOLBROOK.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM G. HOLBROOK, J. McRoBERTs.

